That really looks slick. I'm sure that's running on PC level hardware, so I don't know how smooth it will be on cutdown tablet hardware, but that was really a smooth demo.

I think this will really make the touchscreen all-in-one PC useful. Now I could stick a little 22" machine in my kitchen and use it to look up recipes, watch videos, etc. Also great for reception desks, with the touchscreen placed flat on the desk.

And the split keyboard for thumb typing ... so bloody obvious I cannot believe I haven't seen it done for Android and iOS. I have a feeling it will be standard within a short time.Reply

Apple's UI did not rip off BSD...OSX is not getting nailed by MacDefender..it's a minor exploit, easy to remove, even easier to avoid...As for overcharging, you paid $100 for Windows 7 Home Premium. I paid $30 for Snow Leopard - Ultimate...

Oddly enough the memo from Apple telling Customer Support people to neither confirm nor deny Apple malware further advises them to tell people to buy anti-malware products offered for sale in Apple stores to combat the malware that is designed to attack Apple products.

You can see a copy of the memo here:www.bgr.com/2011/05/20/apple-instructs-support-reps-to-refute-malware-deny-assistance/Reply

You paid for MacOS as a part of the inflated system cost vs. the components in the machine. Since Apple does not let people install MacOS on non-Apple computers, a part of the computer cost IS for the OS plus several updates.Reply

Except you can only (legally) use that $30 copy of OSX if you also happen to have purchased hardware from Apple to run it on. And somehow I suspect that Apple charges a bit more than a $70 average markup on the hardware they sell. Funny how that works.

Given that OSX only works on hardware that must be purchased from the same vendor, it might more properly be viewed as being comparable to a driver or firmware update. It is useless without the corresponding Apple-branded hardware, and in purchasing the hardware you (should) have earned the right to use and update its software. The thing is, I can't remember the last time I had to pay $30 to update my graphics driver or flash my mainboard to the most recent BIOS revision.Reply

You paid $30 for what was at best a service pack, compared to how much do you pay for service packs and updates on Windows? How much did you originally pay for OSx, and then each additional update?

You are a moron if you think that you're getting any remote form of cost savings with Apple - even the most hardcore Apple fanboys who are remotely computer literate admit that they pay a lot more than they would on a PC equivalent.Reply

A higher end quality PC costs as much as a Mac... they simply don't make much in the way of low-end models. But hey, I don't buy a Mac computer anyways. If they sold a regular DESKTOP model for about $500~700 that was close to a PC in components.

OS-X has 18 Month updates... but no, they are NOT the same as Service Packs which are mostly service REPAIR bug-fixes and security patches.

Okay... from the time of OSX till today, we've got 7 releases.MS Windows has gone through several...

2000/ME>XP>Sp1>SP2>MCE>Vista>VistaSP1>Win7>WinSP1

But again, most SPs amounted to FIXES - not adding of features.So, with that in mind, we can reduce Windows from 9 down to 6 (SP2 made some changes and was rather major)

When you go buy a WIN-OS disc, its not clearly what version you're getting (Win7.1 for example).

And so, each "update" from MS is a $100 for the CONSUMER UPGRADE version and doesn't work or is messy for clean install.You are supposed to "upgrade" vista or Win7 over the previous OS - gawd what a mess!

For example, lets say you bought a VistaPC in 1009... you then spend $120 for Win7Home or $180 for Win7Pro. OUCH!

Now, with Apple... you pay $30 to get the feature upgrades... not mandatory. And if you have 3,4 or 5 Macs... its (drum roll) $50! Yep, 5 user-pack licence is $50.

You can wipe the HD clean and do a CLEAN install... no issues.

Ever work on clients PCs? No discs... or the recovery discs are crap. I've had clients who had to spend $100+ for a new windows disc because of such problems. My std. OEM wouldn't work with their HP/DELL keys... not the right version (Home vs Pro vs business OEM vs Upgrade vs Retail) Its a stupid nightmare.

If you are installing Windows Home on multiple PCs you should buy the multi-install Family Pack $110 for the upgrade version/$190 for the Full version. Additional Service Packs available at no additional cost :)

If the hard disk fails all you need to do is put in a new hard disk and reinstall using either the Windows CD or the System Restore CD. If the user failed to make a copy of the Restore CD before the disk crashed, they can order one from the manufacturer...cost about $25 to correct their error to pay 20 cents to buy the blank disks and follow the instructions given when they bought a computer with Windows preinstalled. If you are having your customers pay $100 for the $20-$30 System Restore Disk then you are the one ripping them off, not Microsoft.

Your standard OEM disk will not work with a different brand of hardware. OEM disks are usually locked to a specific hardware type. If you want to do repair installs using your own generic disk you need a Retail Windows install disk. That disk will repair or reinstall any brand of hardware as long as the release version is the same. (XP/Vista/Win7)

You say that you pay $30 each for Service Packs and claim this is much cheaper than the price Microsoft charges for service packs ($0) ROTFLMAO

Perhaps you should learn a bit about Windows before you try to pass your self off as a qualified Windows support tech :)Reply

Well, I personally think you're the one who needs to learn a bit about windows, and software installs.

First, and most importantly. restoring a system requires more work, than just clicking an executable. You have to spend your time, and power ( electricity ) to backup information on the system if it is in fact able to be backed up.

Secondly, you may try and get the system back as close as possible to how you customer had it before the meltdown.

After that, again you have to spend your time, and your internet access to download, and install updates. And I will give you a hint, It can take days, depending on your internet connection, and how much Microsoft is being hammered for updates world wide.

Just last week, spent 3 days to restore an 8-10 year old system back the way the customer wanted it. Most of that time, was downloading updates. Now, if I had the time, inclination, and money ( not to mention the business to afford such a beast ). I would probably setup a local updates server. However, If I spent the money on such a system, you can also bet my customers will pay for it.

I do not know where you come from how much systems technicians get paid. But, where I am, we get paid $50/hour to repair systems. Because we know what we're doing. Thats 2 hours going by the comments you're posting to. Most systems, take longer, because you usually find other problems ( such as malware/viruses). And yes, that does effect a restore, if you have to copy data.

As it happens, the above system was owned by a friend, and was charged nothing. For someone else, I probably would have let them slide with only 4 hours worth of my time. $200 usd. Assuming they did not agree with my advice, which would be to just forget the system recover data if possible, and purchase a modern system which could run a more secure OS. Namely, Windows 7.

You *can* if you're frugal build a system for around $400, and still have equal quality, and a lot of the time better when compared to Apple. It involves some research of course. It also required moving some parts from older system where it makes sense. Like monitor, keyboards hard drives, optical drives etc.

I built an E6550 C2D system with 4GB of RAM, on a good ABIT motherboard for around $400. While prices were relatively high compared to rock bottom prices. Everything else migrated from my previous system, well except the case, which is an Lian Li PC g50. Later, I added an Nvidia 9600GT double slot card when prices came down.

But anyhow, the point is; If you spend some time reading reviews(actual user reviews, not web reviews ), and figuring out what will work for you. You can build a fairly inexpensive system, that will out perform many. Then, you will have the satisfaction that you system will be rock solid stable. If that is in fact what you shoot for. Of course, knowing how to setup, and use such a system will help with stability as well.Reply

Even with standard retail pricing Windows 7 Home is $63 per license when buying the Family Pack. Plus the Service Packs (Win 7.1, Win 7.2) are free of charge as opposed to the equivalent OSX packages at $30 each.

Windows OS costs a bit more because it is not subsidized by the hardware purchase. A Windows computer is usually cheaper than it's Mac equivalent even after including the cost of the OS.

I know people who beta Microsoft software, and pay nothing( I used to beta test myself). I know others who have a premium MSDN subscription, or are MS partners. That pay little to nothing. All legally.Reply

Is it true that Steven said that Microsoft Windows President Steven Sinofsky said that all these are apps running on top of windows and that you could return anytime to the regular windows desktop?Reply

In other words, you can do the same thing with win7 with a "skin" on top. There are a few of these already but they havent taken off because win7 tablets have yet to break below the $400 mark en mass.Reply

Possibly for a while, just the bare essentials, and Perhaps any game made by ID soft. Assuming John Carmack or someone else ports their software to windows. Quake 3 is already running on ARM under various *NIX flavors.

I agree that it will be interesting, but do not see it picking up steam until the numbers look right. I for one will be developing for ARM on Windows. If as nothing else, as a hobby. Personally, I am more interested in the embedded market though. Currently working with GNU toolchains, without an operating system( on the target ), and only a couple of months experience with the platform so far. My experiences so far are pretty good.

Mainly, I'd like to see what all will be possible with ARM combined with the .NET framework. In the embedded context. Right now, I'm only really seeing a lot of unnecessary overhead . . . we'll see.Reply

It's like evolution. Each time software gets ripped off, the "thief" changes it a little. After enough generations of rip-offs, you have software so different from the original that it could be a new species.Reply

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"It's a pretty well done mix of a tablet based UI without giving up the traditional Windows interface."

Uh, what> This is the downfall of the whole thing. Microsfot slapped the Windows Phone UI, which has failed in the marketplace, on a tablet with the standard Windows interface underneath. Which doesn't work on a tablet! Its really terrible and great evidence that Microsoft hasn't learned a thing.Reply

WP7 has been out for 8 months and you're declaring it a failure? The Mango update this fall will be a gamechanger. Not to mention that the largest carrier in the U.S. (Verizon) just started offering WP7 phones.

Give it time.

Personally, I think MS did a fantastic job with the touch UI in Windows 8. If they can get tablet prices below $400 (and they will by using the ARM platform), they will be a major player.Reply

BAH! As a pre plus owner (webOS) ... seeing things like this makes it tough. The TouchPad is less than capturing (especially w/ these recent Kal-El vids, are you kidding me?!) -- and honestly, what is the point of webOS if you have a windows OS that compliments our win7 PC (probably not win8, i can't see why it would be "necessary" on a pc, unless ).

I don't care what ANYBODY says. win8 will take it because of the file system. If i can install win progs onto my tablet, without any subscription/file-check/blocks in place -- that is my dream.

I want my own cloud. I don't want someone [anyone] else w/ access to my data ... write an article about setting that up ==> PC to tablet ultimate synergy imo - accessing PC files from your tablet wherever you are using any wifi or data connection (preferably mobile hotspot from phone )Reply

That for sure.... Win8 is the biggest UI change since Win95. Yes, in general - XP, while it has some modern and Mac like looks and features, is still functionally the same as Windows95. Even the HD properties in XP is 100% the same ugly blue and purple pie chart chart!

It looks very interesting... its a move to the future. My guess, people at computer companies are watching the new StarTrek, Avatar and Minority report and prepping our computers to work in more intimate and advanced ways.

It will be somewhat "scary".

Maybe 10 years from now, our GUIs will look NOTHING like Windows7 / OS-X of today...Reply

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